Héctor Manchego (He/Him)
is a Venezuelan interdisciplinary artist working in theatre, performance, and visual arts. His work delves into themes such as the Latin American diaspora, systemic oppression, and the experiences of the LGBTQI+ community, and it has been showcased in Venezuela and the UK. In recent years, he has participated in notable programs and events, including No Borders—a political theatre initiative—and the SISTER x RC Writers Group at The Royal Court Theatre. Additionally, his work has been featured at Camden People's Theatre, Streatham Space Project, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Rich Mix, and the Migration Matters Festival in Sheffield. Currently, he is collaborating with the Italian theatre company Fabulamundi to develop a series of short films that showcase the work of playwrights around Europe.
Almiro Andrade
is a Black Queer Latinx actor, director, playwright, dramaturg, educationist and theatre translator. Their approach sees all stages of theatre-making as acts of translation and their practice champions the production of international pieces in the most diverse settings across the globe.
Lecturer in Contemporary Acting and Associate Lecturer in Dramaturgy and Performance for Film and Television at UAL, their latest works include: the R&D project for the first English translation of Namibia, Não! by Aldri Anunciação in partnership with King's College London and Soho Theatre; The Trial - from iconic 800-page Jorge Amado's novel Tieta to a breaking-form theatre event as dramaturg and assistant director to Franko Figueiredo from StoneCrabs Theatre; a gender-bending adaptation of The Blind One and The Mad One by Cláudia Barral (IntiPress) produced by Foreign Affairs Theatre; the translation of Brazilian canonical playwright Nelson Rodrigues:Selected Plays (Bloomsbury/Oberon); dramaturgy and translation of Royal Court's production of Black Horses Are Massive from the Brazilian playwright Barbara Esmenia Rae.
Tereza Araujo,
Brazilian actress and Community Drama facilitator, studied Public business and acting at the University of Bahia in Brazil and she has a Master in community art at the Goldsmiths University of London Tereza has a vast stage and film experience, playing the main roles. She has won awards for the Best Actress in Brazil with Josephine, the Singer-Kafka.
With a great interest in community and social theatre work in Brazil has been linked to Vila Velha Theatre and Gregorio de Mattos Foundation. In London she has been worker together with Stonecrabs Theatre Company. And since 2008 she has a successful partnerships with Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Middlesex University, Regent’s University and different Councils (Haringey, Lewisham, Lambert) devising and facilitating Community Theatre Project using Theatre of the Oppressed –Augusto Boal’s techniques. Internationally she had worked with LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) in South Africa –Project Pakama, Japan (theatre company- Caramel Box) facilitating drama workshops for young actors; Germany and Portugal Theatre of the Oppressed workshops.
Gian Carlo Ferrini
is a Venezuelan actor based in London with experience in theatre, film, and TV. Gian Carlo has appeared in productions such as The House of the Spirits and The Play to be Played at Cervantes Theatre. He has also produced The Knife in the Backpack at the Actors Centre and the development of DIABLO with his company, 45 Degrees Theatre. His film credits include "La Noche de las dos Lunas" directed by Miguel Ferrari and "Allende" directed by Miguel Littin. He has collaborated on various projects with Cannes’ award-winning director Fina Torres.
He is co-founder of Latinx Actors UK, a database of Latin American actors based in the UK, with whom he produced the first Latinx Actors UK showcase at the SOHO Theatre. The event was attended by casting directors and industry creatives.
Sofia Lopez
is a Venezuelan Actress and Theatre Maker based in the UK. A few of her credits in Latin America include Scandals (Televen), Vivir para Amar (Tves), Blind Date (Stage), La Mascara Frente al Espejo (Stage) Dos X Una (Stage), Prosein Venezuela and Atlas Panama, etc
Most recently she co-wrote, co-devised and performed her play, “Try Again” with sold-out performances at The Hope, Omnibus, and Camden’s People Theatres. Her professional training in acting at the Actor’s Gym in Caracas, Venezuela, has a natural connection with the Actor’s Studio in NYC. She also trained in Britain at the Theatre Royal University of Plymouth Conservatoire and took part in the “Art and Identity 2019” Latin American Art and Cultural Research Symposium in the UK in collaboration with the University of Oxford.
Sofia’s experimental approach in combination with her concern about identity issues and Latinx diversity aims to challenge stereotypes and to find ways of resistance.
Miguel Hernando Torres Umba
is a highly skilled physical performer and theatre practitioner originally from Colombia. He trained in Acting at the Superior Academy of Arts in Bogota, specialising in Corporeal Mime at the International School of Corporeal Mime in London. Miguel joined Gecko Theatre in October 2018. His credits include the "Missing" international tour, "The Wedding" UK tour, and feature film "Institute” by Gecko/BBC. Miguel is one of the devising performers of "KIN," Gecko's co-production with the National Theatre. Miguel’s one-man show, Stardust, which explores the human cost of the global cocaine industry on Latin American communities, received critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won the ‘People’s Choice Award’ at the Vault Festival.
In addition to performing, Miguel is also a creative director known for his exceptional talent in crafting immersive theatre. Miguel led the creative vision for Rematch Live’s production 'Rumble in the Jungle.' He spent over twelve years at Secret Cinema, initially as a performer and later as a creative director instrumental to successful productions like 'Moulin Rouge,' 'Back to the Future,' and 'Star Wars.' He also collaborated with other leading immersive theatre companies, including Immersive Cult and Les Enfants Terribles.
His production company, Umba Arts, has produced a dynamic range of projects from podcasts and films, to award winning docu-series and he runs LYT - Latinx Youth Theatre - a platform for young Latin Americans in London to celebrate their identity and connect with the creative industries.
Diana Volpe
is an Actor, director, acting coach, and producer, working extensively in theatre, film and television in her native Venezuela as well as New York, Washington, London, Tokyo, Madrid, and Valencia.
Diana's most recent roles include Orinoco, Escaped Alone, Happy Days, Request Concert, and August Osage County, and has directed to great acclaim productions of Mercury Fur, Celebration, The Flick, Seven Minutes, Good People and, recently, Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson for the Wanstead Theatre Company in London.
She is the recipient of numerous awards, recently the Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in the film Opposite Direction (Venezuela’s Film Festival, Seattle Latino Film Festival and nominated for the Platino Iberoamerican Prize). She is the founder of The Matchbox Theatre, in Caracas. She has taught acting techniques in Caracas, Tokyo, Santiago de Chile, Madrid, Barcelona and is currently under contract with La Maquina Teatro of Valencia, Spain.
María Cuervo
is a Colombian award-winning multidisciplinary producer. With an MA (Distinction) in Creative Producing at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, María is passionate about producing work made by underrepresented voices and creatives.
She has worked with recognised theatre venues and companies like the Young Vic, LIFT Festival, Theatre Peckham, Certain Blacks, Upswing Aerial, Camden People’s Theatre, among others.
Previous producing work includes the 5-star endurance performance The Second Woman starring Ruth Wilson (Young Vic & LIFT Festival 2023), I Love You, Now What? (The Pleasance & Ed Fringe 2023), Súper Chefs (tour 2023-24), 1797: The Mariner's Revenge (Old Royal Naval College 2022), Trojana Webcamming Chronicles (Voila! Theatre Festival 2020), and The Apologists (Vault Festival 2019).